Before You Head Out
We are pleased you have chosen to join us for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The following tips will help you maximize the experience your while maintaining an atmosphere for all to enjoy this world-class event.
Find Out When Your Favorite Players Tee Off
Daily pairings will be posted on www.CrownePlazaInvitational.com as well as www.pgatour.com, and published in the sports section of the daily Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News.
Thursday and Friday pairings are determined on Tuesday before the tournament begins, with each golfer playing one day in the morning and the other day in the afternoon. Saturday and Sunday pairings are based on a player's score, with the leaders teeing off last. Free daily pairing sheets will also be available at the tournament.
Pro-am tee times for Monday and Wednesday will also be posted on the website, and printed in the morning newspapers. There are no pre-scheduled times for practice rounds on Tuesday – players come and go all day.
Public Parking
Public park-and-shuttle lots are available at nearby TCU football stadium, off of Stadium Drive, all week. For spectators attending the Monday Pro-Am, Youth Clinic & Concert or Tuesday practice rounds on those two days, there is no charge, and no admission ticket required for the course.
Beginning Wednesday the parking charge is $10 per vehicle, which includes the brief five-minute shuttle ride. Also beginning Wednesday, the public may park at nearby Farrington Field, off of University Drive, for $10 per vehicle, including the shuttle ride. There is an informational video on the shuttle that will help maximize your experience at the tournament. Purchase Daily or Weekly Parking.
If you are coming from north of the golf course, Farrington Field is closer and quicker. If you are coming from south of the golf course, the TCU stadium would be closer and quicker. See the maps, specific directions and alternate routes under a separate tab on this site - MAPS, DIRECTIONS AND PARKING. To reach the TCU parking, turn right off of University onto Cantey and then left at Stadium drive. The Farrington Field lot is located on the east side of University Drive, across from the Will Rogers Memorial Complex and Casa Manana Theater, between Lancaster and Crestline.
If you need to go by Will Call, you must do this first, before parking your car to go to the tournament. See more Will Call details, and map, click for Will Call location map.
Directions
From D/FW Airport: Leave the D/FW Airport at the south exit. When you reach Highway 183, turn right, or west. After several miles you will reach a junction with Loop 820. Take the loop heading south (a leftward curve from the lefthand lanes). In only about a mile or so, staying in the lefthand lanes, you will reach a junction with Hwy 121 heading to downtown Fort Worth. Take this route, which swings underneath Loop 820 to the right. You will see downtown Fort Worth ahead of you.
Just before reaching downtown, you will intersect I-35. Again staying in the lefthand lanes, you will head south (left) onto this highway. You will need to move over to the right a couple of lanes fairly quickly after merging into traffic. This will set you up to intersect the exit to I-30, with the right lane heading west (right) at the corner of downtown.
After passing downtown on I-30 west, watch for the University Drive exit immediately after crossing the Trinity River. Exit right and loop underneath I-30 heading south on University. After passing through a brief shopping area, you will cross the Trinity River again and intersect Colonial Parkway. Turn right. You will see the golf course ahead of you as the road veers to the left along the golf course fence. On your left is a residential area, with the golf course on the right. Simply follow the fence all the way to the clubhouse, eventually reaching Colonial on Country Club Circle.
From the east, or Dallas Area
From north Dallas take Hwy 121 or 183 and head west, then pick up the directions above from D/FW Airport. From downtown Dallas, take I-30 west to Fort Worth and pick up with the University Drive exit instructions above. From the south Dallas area, take I-20 west and exit on Hulen Street. Turn north (right) on Hulen and, after a few miles turn east (right) on Bellaire Drive. After a few miles turn north (left) onto University Drive. Turn west (left) at Canty Street and go straight ahead to Public Parking area at football stadium. Alternate route: from I-30 exit to Lancaster Avenue (prior to University Dr. exit). Turn onto Lancaster Avenue continuing west over the Trinity River all the way to public parking area at Farrington Field football stadium on left.
From the North:
Drive south to Fort Worth on I-35, then pick up from the airport directions above for exiting west onto I-30 at downtown. Alternate route: from I-30 exit to Lancaster Avenue (prior to University Dr. exit). Turn onto Lancaster Avenue continuing west over the Trinity River all the way to public parking area at Farrington Field football stadium on left.
From the South:
Drive north to Fort Worth on I-35, then pick up from the airport directions above after turning west (left) onto I-30 at downtown. Alternate route 1: exit to Berry Street well before I-30 and turn left/west. Drive to TCU campus at University Drive and turn right. Go two blocks to Canty Street and turn left. Public parking is straight ahead at football stadium. Alternate route 2: Take I-20 west to Hulen St exit and turn right/north on Hulen to Bellaire Drive. Turn right/east on Bellaire all the way to Stadium Drive at TCU campus. Turn left/north and public parking is straight ahead at football stadium.
From the West:
Drive east into Fort Worth on I-30, exit University Drive and follow directions from above to public parking or Colonial. Alternate route: exit Hulen Street and turn right/south to Bellaire Drive. Turn left/east on Bellaire Drive and go all the way to Stadium Drive at TCU campus. Turn left/north and public parking is straight ahead at football stadium.
Have A Plan
How do you plan to watch your favorite players on the course? Pick a stationary spot in the bleachers and watch many groups pass by, or follow a particular player or group around the course for many holes, if not their entire round. Some fans do a combination of both – little bit of walking, little bit of sitting.
Arrive Early
Arrive early to claim a spot in a popular area, especially if you plan on watching the tournament from a stationary position. Plus, mornings at Colonial are particular enjoyable, with the birds chirping and the squirrels foraging. On Thursday and Friday only, groups simultaneously start on the first and tenth holes, and are thus spread throughout the course all day. Many people watch the action on the back nine holes, which can give savvy spectators the opportunity to get a better view of players while they are on the front nine holes. On Saturday and Sunday, after the cut, all players will start from the first hole.
Daily Pairing Sheet and Course Map
Pick up a daily pairing sheet for a course map and standings, and to find out when the players tee off. Pairing sheets are available near entrances in the Crowne Plaza Lobby and at "Tournament Information" locations on the tournament grounds. The map will help you locate concessions stands, restrooms, first aid stations, and other on-course services.
The professionals usually play in threesomes on Thursday and Friday and twosomes on the weekends. Check the scoreboards when you arrive, to find out who the leaders are and where they are on course. One way to tell the players from the front or from a distance is to look for their caddies, who wear color-coded vests (with their player's name on the back). Each caddie in the group will have a different color-trimmed vest. Next to each group’s listing in the Pairings Sheet is an indicator of which caddie is wearing which vest that day, so you can quickly determine which group or player you are looking at.
Proper Apparel
Be sure to check the weather to determine proper apparel. Always bring a rain jacket or poncho if there is a chance of precipitation, and wear light colored and cool clothing on sunny days. Also, be sure to wear comfortable shoes, preferably with flatter soles that will make for easier walking on uneven terrain. Stay hydrated as temperatures often exceed 90 degrees.
Professional Practice
Many spectators like to watch the pros practice just before or after their rounds. The practice range is located on the front nine, between holes 3, 4 and 5. This is where players practice their metal woods and irons. The practice putting green is located near the 10th tee, in the middle of the golf course. This is where they practice their chipping and putting.
Colonial Spectator Etiquette
Spectators are expected to preserve an atmosphere with behavior that is appropriate for any gender or age. Please assist us in preserving an enjoyable atmosphere for all and report inappropriate behavior.
All the tournament contestants are invited guests of Colonial, and should be treated with courtesy and respect. As the great Bobby Jones said, “In golf, customs of etiquette and decorum are just as important as rules governing play.” It is appropriate for spectators to applaud or cheer successful strokes by a player, but excessive demonstrations are not appropriate because of possible effect on other competitors. Spectators should never applaud or cheer the misfortune or misplay by a competitor. Spectators should remain quiet immediately prior to and throughout a player’s swing or putt, withholding any reaction until a swing or putting stroke is completely finished.
If following a group or player from hole to hole, spectators should remain still until all players in that group have completed their shots, or putts on the green, and then move on to the next shot or hole.
Stay behind the gallery ropes and cooperate with the course Marshals and all other tournament or PGA Tour officials. Kneel or sit down if you are in the front row of a group of spectators.
If requesting a player’s autograph, on tournament days, you should not ask until after his round is completed. There is a designated player autograph area local outside the lockerroom behind 18 green.
Merchandise Check Stand
A Merchandise Check Stand, located inside the main entrance, is available for patrons to leave their items in a safe location while enjoying the tournament. Any prohibited items must be checked here as well. It’s always better to just leave those things at home or in your car.
Please remember these important security guidelines as you plan to attend the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Many items are not allowed into the tournament grounds. You should leave them at home or lock them in your car trunk.
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These items will be confiscated and/or searched if brought to the tournament. All small purses and bags are subject to search. These important rules ensure your safety and prevent tournament disruption. Though cameras are not allowed during tournament play, they are encouraged Monday-Wednesday, during pro-ams and practice.
Autograph Items
Posters and autograph items larger than 8" x 12" should not be brought to the tournament. Clipboards are prohibited. On tournament days, you should not ask a pro for his autograph until after his round is completed.
Other Tips
- Tickets/badges must be prominently displayed at all times.
- Wear headgear and sunglasses for protection from the sun, and use sunblock.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Familiarize yourself with the First Aid Stations located on-site.
- ATMs can be found near the Golf Shop, the 10th Tee and 13th green.
- Stay behind the gallery ropes and cooperate with the course Marshals.
- Kneel or sit down if you are in the front row.
- Remain still and quiet through each shot and do not move until all players in the group have played or completed the hole.
- Walk carefully—never run.
In the event of an emergency, contact any uniformed tournament Marshal or Law Enforcement personnel in order to expedite medical assistance.
Will Call
Our Will Call office is located offsite, on Rogers Road, conveniently nearby the event. If you are picking up credentials from Will Call, you must drive there first, and only then drive to park your car in order to ride the shuttle to the course main entrance. Will Call is not located at the course or course entrance. The shuttle does not pass by or stop at Will Call.
Hours of operation:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Satuday
Sunday
**PLEASE NOTE: NO TICKET SALES AT WILL CALL. **
**PLEASE CALL (817) 927-4337 DURING OPERATING HOURS FOR MORE INFO, BEFORE YOU DEPART. **
